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Just wanted to say I'm on Book 2 as well. Right now, I'm on page 19 I think, the one with "La Cucaracha." To tell you the truth, I'm not really liking the songs in this book. I enjoyed Tumbalaika, but that was pretty much it. Hopefully, the songs start getting good from now on.

So you guys have the basic course then? I have the All in one adult course so the pages don't match and the music is pretty much the same except for 1 or 2.

I agree I don't like the songs that much, although scherzo was fun due to the speed and I enjoyed boogie woogie blues. Divertimento is ok, I'm looking forward to book 3.

I also do faber and faber adult course book 2 and the songs in there are much better, the ones in bastiens are much better too. Faber goes a little faster though, they get into inverting triads right off the bat and alfreds doesn't get into it until 3/4 of the way almost.

Thanks Mark!!!!! You rock

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Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.>>> Herman Munster

Originally posted by z32: Just wanted to say I'm on Book 2 as well. Right now, I'm on page 19 I think, the one with "La Cucaracha." To tell you the truth, I'm not really liking the songs in this book. I enjoyed Tumbalaika, but that was pretty much it. Hopefully, the songs start getting good from now on. [/b]

Sometimes I don't like the songs too, but I believe its part of paying your dues in the learning process. I think many of the songs that we might not like are the type of song to give us experience in certain musical areas. Thats why having some side work you really like is important. Some songs in book one I just hated playing but I wouldn't let it get to me...

I can't say that I didn't like most of the songs in Book 2. There were a few I didn't care for, a few I really enjoyed, but most were in the middle somewhere. As Mark says, many of the songs are specifically arranged to highlight or teach one aspect of technique or theory. Even my teacher would sometimes say that this is not a particularly good or even interesting arrangement of a song, but she would point out the "why" of how it was done and that (sometimes) made the piece more interesting to me. Not always- there were some I just couldn't warm up to.

I think most people will enjoy Scherzo- it's just fun to play- and the "lyrics" are amusing!

As for the Canon (as someone above asked)- so far, the arrangement is not bad. Of course, the original piece is most often heard with a string ensemble, so the piano reduction is a little tame, and it's certainly NOT George Winston's variations, but I think it will be fun to play once I get it all together. And my teacher says every piano player should learn a version of this one- because the melody is so familiar, it doesn't really matter what kind of music your listeners like, they will all pretty much recognize this one!!

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-Mak

1889 Mason & Hamlin screwstringer uprightKawai MP-4 digital

---------------------------When life hands you lemons, throw them back and add some of your own. Stupid life.

i play this on every piano i come across as i memorized it. i took it slower towards the end because the book marks it slower and slower still then faster at the last part. anyhow just wanted to add my 2 cents on the canon in d. i love this version:)

Originally posted by funburger: canon in d from the alfred book 2 is awesome. i really like this piece. i still play it alot. here is a link after i learned it if anyone wants to hear it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQyj-yrHTk

cyborg, well it took a little longer than expected because i got really sick for a while but i think it was 8 months or somewhere around there. my teacher is really good and wont let me slip by(at least i dont think so) which i like. book 2 was drudgery though and in that time i started doing alot of my own stuff. i jumped to the end of the book because it was more exciting to do at the time. also without book 2 book 3 would be a nightmare, just press on learning everything you can:) book 2 certainly is a building stone and really prepares you for more music.

Mark, if I have time I'll go ahead and play it and record it for you, I can't promise anything though but I'll try my best. I'll shoot for this evening after I've worn the pup out and if not definately tomorrow afternoon. If someone beats me to the punch let us know please.

thanks

_________________________
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.>>> Herman Munster

Originally posted by loly: Mark, if I have time I'll go ahead and play it and record it for you, I can't promise anything though but I'll try my best. I'll shoot for this evening after I've worn the pup out and if not definately tomorrow afternoon. If someone beats me to the punch let us know please.

thanks [/b]

Thanks loly! The teacher played them for me, but I need to hear them a few more times. And they aren't on "you tube" either...

LOL I'm stalled on the piece, "Sakura," but not because it's hard, but rather due to being preoccupied with trying to learn Cristofori's Dream. I saw it on Youtube and I simply had to learn how to play it! I simply needed a change of pace from the songs in this book. They were boring me to death lol!

I can buy "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Adult All-In-One Level 2" Book here in the UK but seemingly not with the CD, which means I would have to order from the USA again and the shipping is almost the same cost as that of the book. I wondered if there is away of buying the CD content by downloading it from the internet, any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Originally posted by redcoat: I can buy "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Adult All-In-One Level 2" Book here in the UK but seemingly not with the CD, which means I would have to order from the USA again and the shipping is almost the same cost as that of the book. I wondered if there is away of buying the CD content by downloading it from the internet, any suggestions would be gratefully received. [/b]

I'd see how many of the songs you can dig up on You-Tube and the Internet. I'd love to have people upload their songs from each book to each corresponding thread, just for situations like yours. If I ever get cured of red dot fever I'll upload some...

Originally posted by z32: LOL I'm stalled on the piece, "Sakura," but not because it's hard, but rather due to being preoccupied with trying to learn Cristofori's Dream. I saw it on Youtube and I simply had to learn how to play it! I simply needed a change of pace from the songs in this book. They were boring me to death lol!

Mark, i just recorded this, i didnt do the repeat, as once through was enough, and i screwed up the ending because i am used to doing the repeat. ah well you get the idea. its not perfect but its light and blue to give you an idea:) plus i just adjusted my piano yesterday so the feel is much different than i am used to:) better but i still need to get used to it. hope this helps. take care!!!

Originally posted by funburger: Mark, i just recorded this, i didnt do the repeat, as once through was enough, and i screwed up the ending because i am used to doing the repeat. ah well you get the idea. its not perfect but its light and blue to give you an idea:) plus i just adjusted my piano yesterday so the feel is much different than i am used to:) better but i still need to get used to it. hope this helps. take care!!!

Originally posted by Mark737:Wow!! What a great piece. I was hoping it was in Alfred book 2...how hard is it. Must go on my to do list...

Thanks Mark [/b]

The pace of the song, as you can see, goes right along with what we are doing in Alfred's Book 2. There doesn't seem to be anything in this piece that you shouldn't have learned by now by following the Alfred's Books. The only things that might seemingly pose some problems for some are consecutive octaves, consecutive 3rds, and one tiny scale movement. My only problem so far(aside from the time length of the song since I'm working on memorizing it) is getting down the use of the consecutive octaves which are found throughout the song. Going by what I've done with Alfred's so far, there really hasn't been a song that makes use of consecutive octaves, so it takes some getting used to in order to get my hand in that octave position for play. I started this song about 1 week ago, and I've memorized about half of the song at this point. It's really long(6 min+) LOL! But you know what, I've committed myself to getting this song down; I simply can't get it off my head!

BTW, if you liked this song, I highly recommend you check out this Marriage D'Amour rendition by the same guy from Youtube. I did that right after I finished Alfred's Book 1. It's a fairly simply song, but it has a great sound to it! Here's a link.

Originally posted by Mark737:[qb]Wow!! What a great piece. I was hoping it was in Alfred book 2...how hard is it. Must go on my to do list...

Thanks Mark [/b]

The pace of the song, as you can see, goes right along with what we are doing in Alfred's Book 2. There doesn't seem to be anything in this piece that you shouldn't have learned by now by following the Alfred's Books. The only things that might seemingly pose some problems for some are consecutive octaves, consecutive 3rds, and one tiny scale movement. My only problem so far(aside from the time length of the song since I'm working on memorizing it) is getting down the use of the consecutive octaves which are found throughout the song. Going by what I've done with Alfred's so far, there really hasn't been a song that makes use of consecutive octaves, so it takes some getting used to in order to get my hand in that octave position for play. I started this song about 1 week ago, and I've memorized about half of the song at this point. It's really long(6 min+) LOL! But you know what, I've committed myself to getting this song down; I simply can't get it off my head!

I hope your right, I would love to play that song. I'm currently working on so much stuff, I have to wait for Christofs Dream. But I'll eventually get there...

To everyone who has been following and/or participating in the Alfred threads, I just wanted to let you know that I started a thread in the teachers forum asking for teacher volunteers to help us in our learning journey. Since most of us are beginners I thought it would be nice to have some excellent resources to help us when we run into problems. I want to thanks Chris and sarabande for their help and anyone else who would like to offer their advise.

I'd see how many of the songs you can dig up on You-Tube and the Internet. I'd love to have people upload their songs from each book to each corresponding thread, just for situations like yours. If I ever get cured of red dot fever I'll upload some...

Thanks Mark, I managed to find a music supplier over here who is selling me the Book #2 + CD for Â£17.00 inc. postage, thats roughly double the cost of buying it in the USA though.

Thanks for starting these Alfred's threads, reading other members experiences and input is great incentive to keep my head down and practice. I'm slowly getting there...next stop You Tube.